Wrist support

ABSTRACT

1,093,338. Wrist support. F. F. STUBBS. Feb. 23. 1966 [Feb. 23, 1965], No. 7861/66. Heading A5R. A wrist support 20 comprises a flexible band 27 having an opening 22 for a thumb, a first fastening member 30 located adjacent the opening on one side of the band and a second fastening member 31 located at or near the end of the band on the opposite side, both fastening members being attached to the same portion of the band on one side of the opening. The flexible band may be formed of cloth, leather, or of a plastic layer backed by a cloth layer. The fastening members may be hook and pile elements of Velcro tape (the word &#34;Velcro&#34; is a Trade Mark). Alternatively, snaps, hooks, or buttons may be utilised. Rigid structures may be attached to the band to extend transversely of the band either above or below the wrist.

March 1966 F. F. STUBBS 3,238,939

WRIST SUPPORT Filed Feb. 23, 1965 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. FRANK E $711355 BY (8.57M

MW l

March 8, 1966 F. F. STUBBS 3,238,939

WRIST SUPPORT Filed Feb. 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZTQ WK I: Srusss 1 N VEN TOR.

ATTOQ N EV March 8, 1966 F. F. STUBBS 3,238,939

WRIST SUPPORT Filed Feb. 25, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fen/v14 I. STuBBS INVENTOR.

BY (125W ATTOE N EY ite States Patent 3,238,939 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 3,238,939 WRIST SUPPORT Frank F. Stubbs, 6718 Alcove Ave, North Hoilywood, Calif. Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,324 12 Claims. (Ci. 123-465) This invention relates to a wrist support and more particularly to a wrist support in the form of a band which can be wrapped around the wrist and which extends onto the forehand and forearm in order to brace the wrist at the wrist joint against up and down movement and sidewise movement.

One present type of wrist support consists of a flexible band which is wrapped around the wrist and has two openings through which the thumb must project in order to maintain the strap in position on the hand (see US. Patent 2,369,201).- However, it is necessary to carefully size the band to the hand since the thumb must fi-t through both openings and still provide a tight wrap around the wrist. Also, it is necessary that the fasteners become precisely located with respect to one another so that the band is tightly held on the wrist. Other types of prior devices include wrist supports which are strapped onto the wrist and have a strap which goes around the palm of the hand in order to hold the wristband in position.

The wrist support of the present invention consists of a band which will fit different sized hands and wrists while still covering the wrists and portions of the fore-hand and forearm in order to brace the wrist joint. The device has only a single thumb hole which keeps the wrist support in proper location around the wrist and prevents it from creeping up on the forearm. By utilizing a hook and pile tape, commonly known in the trade by the trademark Velcro, it is possible to tightly fasten the band around the wrist and to lock it in the most convenient position since it is not necessary to line up female and male members of snaps or other types of fastening devices or to select the nearest buckle opening in a strap. Also, the device of the present invention can be utilized either on the left or right hand depending upon which wrist is to be reinforced. In one form of the invention, a rigid reinforcement memher is attached to the band and extends along the back of the wrist onto the forehand and forearm to provide better bracing for the wrist. The subject invention is particularly suitable for bracing the wrist during playing of various sports, such as in bowling and golf. However, it is also useful as a support for injured or sprained wrists. In golf, a braced but not locked wrist is desirable for the left hand while in bowling, a braced but not locked wrist for the right hand is desirable. Also, braced wrists are desirable in other sports, such as tennis or weight lifting, and in archery both wrists can be braced for better performance.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wrist support for different sizes of wrists consisting of a band which is wrapped around the wrist and extends onto the forehand and forearm in order to brace the wrist against sidewise and up and down movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrist support which consists of a band having a hook and pile fastener which allows the band to be tightly applied to the wrist and held with the desired degree of tightness.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wrist support which consists of a band having a plurality of layers around the wrist to impart the desired stiffness to the wrist.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrist support which consists of a pad having a single thumb opening for the thumb in order to hold the support in proper location around the wrist.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically set forth above will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a first form of the wrist support applied to the left hand of the wearer;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section along line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1 showing the various fastening points for the wrist support;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 prior to final attachment of the longer portion of the wrist support;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of one side of the wrist support showing the stitch line adjacent the thumb opening;

FIGURE 5 is atop plan view similar to FIGURE 4 with the material cut away at the thumb opening;

FIGURE 6 is an edge view along 6-6 of FIGURE 5 showing the various fastener members;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view along line 77 of FIG- URE 5 showing the pile fastening member;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section along line 8-8 of FIG- URE 5 showing the hook fastening member;

FIGURE 9 is a section along line 99 of FIGURE 1 showing the hook and the pile fastener members forced together to hold the wrist support in position;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a second form of the invention in which an additional pair of fastening members are utilized;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view, similar to FIGURE 10, with the material cut away at the thumb opening;

FIGURE 12 is an edge View along line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 showing the two pairs of fastening members;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view through the second form of the invention, with parts in position similar to that of FIGURE 3 for the first form, showing the longer portion of the band before it is fastened;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view, similar to that of FIG- URE 2 for the first form, wherein the support is fully assembled on the wrist;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of a third form of the invention, similar to FIGURES 4 and 10 of the prior embodiments, showing the reinforcing pad carried by the wrist support for location above the wrist;

FIGURE 16 is a vertical section along line 16-16 illustrating the reinforcing strip carried in the support P FIGURE 17 is a vertical section along line 17-47 of FIGURE 15 showing the reinforcing strip extending lengthwise of the pad; and

FIGURE 18 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the third form of the invention applied to the left hand.

Referring to the first form of the invention shown in FIGURES 19, and more particularly to FIGURE 5, a wrist support 2d is fabricated of a single flexible band 21 which contains an opening 22 connecting with cut edges 23 and 24. In assembling the support, the edges are overlapped and stitched at line 25 in order to form a substan- U tially circular thumb opening 22 while at the same time providing excess material at the outer band portion 22a which gathers somewhat. A first, shorter portion 26 of the band extends between the opening 22 and one end of the band and a second, longer portion 27 extends between the opening 22 in the other end of the band. Because of the overlapping of the edges 23 and 24, the portions 26 and 27 assume an oblique angle to one another. The portions 26 and 27 are connected at the opening 22 by the stitch line 25 and by the side portion 22a and the opening 22 is located at the apex of the angle therebetween.

The band 20 carries a fastener device 29 which consists of a hook fastening member 30 on the upper surface of portion 27 adjacent opening 22 and of a pile fastening member 31 on the other side of the portion 27 near the end thereof. The fastening device 2% is generally referred to by the trademark Velcro. As illustrated in FIGURE 7, the pile member 31 consists of a group of relatively fine fibers 32 and as illustrated in FIGURE 8, the hook member 30 consists of spaced, upstanding hook elements 33. When the fastening members are pressed together, as shown in FIGURE 9, the fibers are held by the hooks and considerable force is required to disconnect the members. The band 27 is formed of a thin plastic layer 34 backed by a thin cloth layer 35 so that the band is flexible and portion 26 is slightly more than half the length of portion 27.

In applying the wrist support 20 to the left wrist, shorter portion 26 is stretched tightly over the top of the wrist after the thumb is inserted in opening 22 and while holding the end of the portion 26 with the fingers, the portion 27 is wrapped under the wrist and then around over the portion 26 in the top of the wrist until the pile member 31 becomes opposite the hook member 30. When the band is tight against the wrist, the fastening members are pushed together to firmly secure the wrist band 20 in position illustrated in FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 2, the portions 26 and 27 are shown in assembled position with the fastening members locked together and in FIG- URE 1, the portion 27 has been wrapped under the wrist and is ready for wrapping over the portion 26 on top of the wrist. The portion 22a of the band engages the crotch of the thumb so that the band 20 cannot slip upwardly onto the forearm after the band is fastened. Because of the gather in portion 22a, it lies fiat against the crotch of the thumb, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, without cutting into the hand. Also, because of the width of the band, it not only overlies the wrist but also extends onto the forehand and forearm to brace the wrist. In FIG- URE 2, the portions 26 and 27 provide two layers over substantially the complete circumference of the wrist for effective support of the wrist; the extent of the double layer depending upon the size of the wrist to which the band is applied.

Since this form of the invention has only one thumb opening 22 and the fastening elements 30 and 31 are of considerable length, it is possible to secure the support device for tight, comfortable bracing of the wrist, and the support device does not have to be a size to individual wrist size. For instance, it has been found that three basic sizes will fit the full range of wrist sizes. When it is desired to place the band 20 on the right hand, the thumb is placed through the opening 22 with the portion 22a in the crotch and the band portion 26 is then wrapped underneath the wrist after which the portion 27 is wrapped over the wrist and then under the wrist to force the fastening members together. Thus, the same device can be used on either the right or left hand although it is applied in a slightly different manner for different hands.

Referring to the second form of the invention shown in FIGURES -14, the same parts as in the prior embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. The band 20 consists of portions 26 and 27 having the same shape and containing the same opening 22 as in the prior embodiment. Also, the band 20 carries the fastener device 29 consisting of fastening members 30 and 31. However, this form of the invention also has a second fastener device 36 consisting of a hook fastening member 37 and a pile fastening member 38. The hook member 37 is attached to the outer end of the band portion 26 on the same side as pile member 30 and the pile fastening member 38 is attached to the band portion 27 adajacent the opening 22 and on the opposite side from the hook member 30.

The wrist support 20 is assembled on the left hand in a manner similar to the manner shown in FIGURE 3 wherein the portion 26 is wrapped underneath the wrist. However, in the second form of the invention, the end of portion 26 is next attached to the portion 27 by interlocking the hook member 37 with the pile member 38 carried by the portion 27. Once this is accomplished, it is no longer necessary to hold the portion 26 over the top of the wrist with the fingers and full attention can be given to wrapping the portion 27 around the wrist and securing the device by pressing pile member 31 against the hook member 30.

In FIGURE 13, the band portion 26 is shown wrapped over the top of the wrist and secured to band portion 27 by members 37 and 38. In FIGURE 14, the portion 27 has been wrapped around the wrist and into position so that the locking members 30 and 31 are interconnected. By the application of the two additional fastening members 37 and 38, the wrist support is made easier to apply but two additional fasteners are required for this purpose. As in the prior form of the invention, the band 20' extends over adjoining portions of the forehand and forearm to brace the wrist against movement and at least two plies of material are provided around substantially all of the wrist circumference. Further, the second form of the invention can also be applied to the right hand in the same manner as the first form.

The third form of the invention as shown in FIGURES 18 wherein the same parts are designated by the same reference numeral as in the prior form. The band b contains the thumb opening 22 and the gathered portion 22a for insertion in the crotch of the thumb. Also, the band portion 27 carries the fastening members and 31 on opposite sides thereof as in the first embodiment. However, the band portion 26 is slit along the edges 40 and 41 to provide a cutaway portion 42 which can be pressed below the surface of portion 26' to provide a slot for receiving a reinforcing member 45.

The member 45 consists of a top sheet 46 of flexible plastic material to which is cemented a thin foam rubber pad 47, and a rigid metal strip 48 is located between the plastic sheet and the pad prior to cementing of these members together. The strip 48 is located centrally of the pad and extends transversely of band portion 26 to near each end of the pad so that the pad and strip extend onto the forehand and onto the forearm when the pad 40 is positioned Within the strap 42 above the wrist in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 18. The end 49 of the pad member 45 is curved to facilitate insertion into the slot between the portion 26and the strap 42 and the width of the pad is such as to cause it to be wedged in the slot in order to hold the pad securely in location without any further attachment being required. Since the foam rubber pad 47 is against the back of the wrist when placed on the left hand is shown in FIGURE 18, the metal strip 48 provides additional resistance to up and down movement of the wrist, and the foam rubber pad 47 prevents any injury to the surface of the hand because of the rigidity of the strip 48. Thus, the third form of the invention provides more resistance to up and down wrist movement than the other forms of the invention.

The present invention provides a novel wrist strap for bracing the wrist of the wearer against both sidewise and up and down movement. While the hook and pilemembers of the Velcro tape have been described as the fastening members, it is understood that snaps, hooks or buttons can be utilized and placed close enough together in order to give the right amount of tension on the portions of the cover. Also, the longer portion of the strap can be extended to wrap an additional amount around the wrist before the end is secured, thereby providing additional band layers for supporting the wrist, While it is desirable to cut away the opening 22 at the locations 23 and 24 and then overlap the cut portion, it is also possible to stamp the device directly out of a sheet angular material. Also the bands 20, 20' and 20b can be fabricated of other suitable flexible materials, such as cloth, leather, etc. and various rigid structures can be attached to the band to extend transversely of the band, either above or below the wrist. Various other modifications are contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrist support comprising:

a flexible band containing a thumb opening and having first and second portions attached together at said opening and extending in opposite direction from said opening;

said first and second portions being positioned at an angle to one another and the band portion to one side of said opening being engageable with the crotch of a human thumb;

said first portion having a first fastening member located adjacent said opening on one side of said band and a second fastening member located at the outer end thereof on the opposite side of said band from said first member;

said second portion adapted to be wrapped tight around a wrist in one direction, said first portion adapted to be wrapped tight around said wrist in the opposite direction and over said second portion until said fastening members are opposite one another for attachment together;

said band being of sufficient width so that said portion when in use covers said wrist and extends onto said forehand and said forearm to brace the wrist against up and down and sidewise motion.

2. A wrist support as defined in claim lwherein said first portion is longer than said second portion, said second portion adapted to be wrapped over the wrist and said first portion adapted to be wrapped under the wrist when said support is applied to the left hand and said second portion adapted to be wrapped under the wrist and said first portion adapted to be wrapped over the wrist when said support is applied to the right hand.

3. A wrist support as defined in claim 1 wherein said side portion is provided with fullness so that it can fit flat against the crotch of the thumb when said support is applied to the wrist; said side portion serving to hold the wrist support against movement onto the forearm and away from the wrist.

4. A wrist support as defined in claim 1 wherein said second portion is of sufiicient length to overlap one side of said wrist and said first portion is of sufficient length to overlapp both sides of said wrist thereby providing said wrist support with two layers over substantially the entire circumference of the wrist.

5. A wrist support as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said fastening members comprises a layer of hook material and the other fastening member comprises a layer of pile material, said materials being interlocked and fastened together by the application of pressure therebetween.

6. A wrist support comprising:

a band containing a thumb opening and having a shorter portion attached to a longer portion at said opensaid longer and shorter portions being positioned at an angle to one another;

said opening being located to receive a human thumb with the portion of said band at one side of said opening being located in the crotch of said thumb when in use;

said longer portion having a first fastening member located adjacent said opening on one side of said band and a second fastener located at the outer end thereof on the other side of said band from said first memher;

a third fastening member located on said longer portion adjacent said opening and on said other side of said band from said first member;

a fourth fastening member located on said one side of said band at the outer end of said shorter portion;

said shorter portion adapted to be first wrapped tight around a wrist in one direction to position said fourth member opposite said third member for attachment together and said longer portion being thereafter adapted to be wrapped tight around said wrist in the opposite direction and over said shorter portion until said first and second members are opposite one another for attachment together;

said third and fourth fastening members serving to attach said shorter portion to the inner end of said longer portion prior to wrapping of said longer portion over said shorter portion and fastening of said first and second members.

7. A wrist sup-port as defined in claim 5 wherein said side portion provided with fullness so that it can fit fiat against the crotch of the thumb when said support is applied to the wrist; said side portion serving to hold the wrist support against movement onto the forearm and away from the wrist.

8. A wrist support as defined in claim 5 wherein said shorter portion is adapted to be wrapped over the wrist and said longer portion is adapted to be wrapped under the wrist when the device is applied to the left hand and wherein said shorter portion is applied under the wrist and the longer portion is wrapped over the top of the wrist when the device is applied to the right hand.

9. A wrist support as defined in claim 6 wherein one fastening member of each pair attached together comprises a layer of hook material and the other member of each pair comprises a layer of pile material, said materials being interlocked and fastened together by the application of pressure therebetween.

10. A wrist support comprising:

a flexible band containing a thumb opening and having first and second portions attached together at said opening and extending in opposite direction from said opening;

said first and second portions being positioned at an angle to one another and the band portion to one side of said opening being engageable with the crotch of a thumb;

said first portion having a first fastening member located adjacent said opening on one side of said band and a second fastening member located at the outer end thereof on the opposite side of said band from said first member;

said second portion adapted to be first wrapped tight around a wrist in one direction and then said first portion adapted to be wrapped tight around said wrist in the opposite direction and over said second portion until said fastening members are opposite one another for attachment together; and

reinforcing means attached to said band and positioned transversely thereof to extend onto said forehand and onto said forearm.

11. A wrist support as defined in claim 8 wherein said reinforcing means comprises pad means attached to said second portion and rigid strip means embedded in said pad means.

12. A wrist supporter as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said second portion has two parallel slits therein to form a strap movable below the surface of said second portion;

said pad means being insertable between said strap and said surface and comprising a cover member and a foam rubber layer connected thereto;

said rigid strip means being located between said cover member and said layer with said layer adjacent the skin when said support is attached to the hand.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cohn l28166 Bloom 216 Capossela 216 Caposella 128-166 Perschke 12877 10 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WRIST SUPPORT COMPRISING: A FLEXIBLE BAND CONTAINING A THUMB OPENING AND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS ATTACHED TOGETHER AT SAID OPENING AND EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID OPENING; SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS BEING POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE BAND PORTION TO ONE SIDE OF SAID OPENING BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CROTCH OF A HUMAN THUNM; SAID FIRST PORTION HAVING A FIRST FASTENING MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT SAID OPENING ON ONE SIDE OF SAID BAND AND A SECOND FASTENING MEMBER LOCATED AT THE OUTER END THEREOF ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID BAND FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER; SAID SECOND PORTION ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED TIGHT AROUND A WRIST IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID FIRST PORTION ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED TIGHT AROUND SAID WRIST IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND OVER ARE OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER FOR ATFASTENING MEMBERS ARE OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER FOR ATTACHMENT TOGETHER; SAID BAND BEING OF SUFFICIENT WIDTH SO THAT SAID PORTION WHEN IN USE COVERS SAID WRIST AND EXTENDS ONTO SAID FOREHEAD AND SAID FOREARM TO BRACE THE WRIST AGAINST UP AND DOWN AND SIDEWISE MOTION. 